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Title: Heat-stress-management program for nuclear power plants

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6102205

A program for managing heat stress in work situations has been developed. The program content is based on current industrial practices, current literature, surveys of nuclear power plants, and other EPRI research. The objective of the program is to control the effects of heat stress through (1) evaluation, (2) countermeasures, (3) training, and (4) medical evaluation. The evaluation scheme is presented as a decision tree that includes the effects of clothing, work demands (metabolism), and environmental factors. The countermeasures, which are suggested through the use of the decision tree, cover engineering controls, work practices, and personal protection. A complete training program is presented, with recommendations for content, types of training and frequency. The medical evaluation includes a simple checklist for preliminary evaluation of personal risk factors. If risk factors are present, an optimal exercise test can identify the level of relative heat tolerance. 28 refs., 22 figs., 16 tabs.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Research and Development Center; Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Noll Lab. for Human Performance Research; GPU Nuclear Corp., Middletown, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6102205
Report Number(s):
EPRI-NP-4453; ON: TI86920172
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English